The Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP, has demanded an ordinance to pave the way for the temple's construction in Ayodhya, arguing that the matter has been dragging in courts for decades.

The Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP, has demanded an ordinance to pave the way for the temple's construction in Ayodhya.

Reacting over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first interview of 2019 in which he made it clear that the government will not bring any ordinance for building Ram Temple in Ayodhya until the judicial process gets over, the Shiv Sena has said that 'Lord Ram is not bigger than the law' for the prime minister.

The Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP, has demanded an ordinance to pave the way for the temple's construction in Ayodhya, arguing that the matter has been dragging in courts for decades.

"The Supreme Court has said (hearing on the) Ram Mandir is not an urgent matter. Modi also did not say anything different. I congratulate him for making his position clear on the matter...(the prime minister says) will not bring an ordinance for the Ram temple. The constitutional meaning of this is that Lord Ram is not bigger than the law," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut tweeted.

In an interview with news agency ANI, PM Modi was asked about the demand by Hindutva groups for an ordinance for a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

To this, Modi said, "Let the judicial process take its own course. Don't weigh it in political terms. Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever be our responsibility as government, we are ready to make all efforts," he said.

The Shiv Sena has hardened its stand over the Ram temple issue.

Addressing a rally in Pandharpur in Maharashtra's Solapur district last month, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had asked BJP allies to clear their stand on the Ram temple issue.

"I want to tell BJP one thing, we can forgive you on 'ache din' jumla and the promise of Rs 15 lakh to each person. But we will not forgive you if you come up with one more jumla on our faith or in the name of god. We will beat you up.

"We will not allow you to make any more false promises in the name of Ram or any other Hindu god," Thackeray had said.

In November, he had visited Ayodhya and demanded an ordinance to resolve the issue.